The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-01-29
JOS FORTUNE.
1t Came to Him in the Shape of a Great
Railroad Wash-Out.

JOS FORTUNE.
1t Came to Him in the Shape of a Grca,
Railroad Wash-Out.
Did We hear bout the cycl one9
Scarcely a shanty left standing down
in Morville. People killed, an them
who amt killed fairly cleaned out. The
wind s JUS broke up every thing, an
left them poor as Jobs turkey" The
speaker was a long-haired, %cadavcrous
looking individual, who spit tobacco
juice a bout freely as he delivered HIM
self Of the foregoing statement, A mot
ley group had gathered around the
huge stove. for although a raw wind
was blowing outside, the store door
was left Hospitality open to entice Gus
toners.
Eyes, hard lines replied the court
eous proprietor; "and the cyclone came
within five miles of u.s. twill be u
turn next. Constitutions will be taken
in all the churches tomorrow for the
sufferers
.'Wall, people ought to perfect their
Selves continued the first speaker.
''Now I've dug Il big hole in the groun'.
sort of a vault like, ye know, an l tell
my folks if worst comes to the worst,
We can jus pile in there"
$50 you have prepared a city of
refuge: a good idea,' was the reply;
"yet we may escape, although this part
OF the South seems to be the section
just now chosen for such operations"
Better all 90 home an dig holes in
the groun'," was the countryman's ad-
vice as he stalked out of the store.
Among the interested listeners was
10. a little colored boy. He had battled
with storms. and knew by actual ex-
perience that a high wind was not a
force to be despised. "Lct the siklone
come he chuckled, "I's prepared.
faint ebcry un dat owns a gram I'M
dergroun' state. Take Il mighty high
wind to upset my pallis. / can lay
dere as snug as a top, with never a fear
dat my roof will sail Off obcr my head.
Lor! but don't the wind blow. I
b'lieve a siklone's comm sure nuff!"
The wind continued to blow, gaining
in force rs the day waned, and by night
the rain fell in torrents. The streets
were nearly deserted, with here and
there a traveller who struggled YEARLY
against the storm. Notwithstanding
JOS high opinion of the good points of
his establishment, hungry and cold he
still wandered restlessly about, loath
to take possession of his snug quarters. |
"lt's bad luck I've had to-day" he
said; Eyes, confounded bad luck! II
thought for sure Jim would pay me
dat nickel, he's a po' trifin' chap. AM
MIR. Curtis, pears like he thinks Is
rich. reckon he knows l live in a p%allis'
and DO laughed bitterly. mo mat
ter he continued more checrfuIv.
'"tain't the first time I've turned in
supperlcss." And so, footsore, and with
a very faint feeling in the region of the
stomach, the forlorn little figure
tlldged bravely on in the darkscss to.
ward his cave-likc berth on the side of a
nil not far from the railroad. Here 10
had taken possession of a small natural
cavern and set up housekeeping. His
household goods consisted of n few
PIECES OF broken crockery, and a frap.
ment OF a quilt. mighty good Of
Dinah to give me this 'cre,' soliloouized
TO- as he wrapped the old quilt closely
about him; "rcckon I'll pay her a call
in the mornin', a bite of her cold ~yittlcs
would 60 right good. l wonder II IFS
warm up dcrc where mother went! M
night, no hunger, no cold, s%houldn,t
min trying it my W self" But poor
JOS troubles were soon forgotten in
drcamless sleep.
lie awoke toward morning in speccb.
less terror. 1t seemed as II the earth
underneath him was shaken, there was
a sound as if a heavy body had fallen.
then all was silence. '.Was it the
slkioneP' he thought. Gradually he
gathered courage and his scattered
wits "IH go out and 'vestigate," he
said, although shaking with fear.
.'erushy!' he cried. The frequent
and violent rains had taken effect.
Looking down toward the railroad
'rack' he saw, in the dim light, that
portion OF the %embankment underneath
1t had given away. "J~erushy" he re.
peated, "a wash out, an it's mos time
.1r t'ae carry train As he slept in his